High speed die casting machine



Dec. 17, 1940.

I H. MORlN HIGH SPEED DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 193a 6 Sheets-Sheet l I I I I INVENTOR Lou/ls /Morin AT'ToR EY Deg. 17, 1940. L. MQR|N 2,224,977

HIGH SPEED DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Loucs lilfarbn A BY ATTQRNE Dec. 17, 1940. H. MORIN HIGH SPEED DIE. CASTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1938 Z m M 3 0 Ga 7 0 H K a 6 6 Z W w 7 v PIIIIHHHIIIIIHHHHIIIIIIIHHM. y 1 m O I l} w 7 -HuHh 6bna/wMur I 2 0 n. 7 w M U 6 7 1/ J W 9 4 4 7 A INVENTOR Loans Moron.

ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1940. MORIN 2.Z24,977

HIGH SPEED DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 193a s Sheets-Sheet 4' 77 INVENTOR Lou/s H Mar J2 ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1940.

L. H. MORIN 2.224,977

HIGH SPEED DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '8, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 hr 'NVENTOR Louis ('1 Mor'zln/ ATTORNE Dec. 17, 1940. MQRIN 2,224,977

HIGH SPEED DIE CASTING MAC'IINE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I; I INVENTOR J L 0 ZLL 5 /f M012 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED. STATES azzaan man sraan ma cas'rmc mcnms Louis B. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Whitehall Patents Corporation, Bronx, N. Y., a cor-v poration of New York Application February s, 1938, Serial No. 189,309

16 Claims.

This invention relates to die casting machines and particularly to machines of this kind designed for use in die casting the coupling links or elements of separable fastener devices, and still more particularly to casting such devices upon a mounting strip, strand or tape in forming what is known as stringers of devices of this kind. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine of the character described which is designed for the high speed production of relatively small die castings; that is 'to say, in the production of die castings at a rate of five hundred to a thousand per minute, thereby materially increasing the production of devices of the character under con- 16 sideration. The novel features of the invention willbe best understood from the following description and annexed drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is disclosed and in which the separate parts of the machine are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which: i

' Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine with parts of the structure broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 65 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a partial section substantially on theline of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a partial section on the line 6-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial section on the line 3-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a partial section on the broken line l6--l 6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a partial section substantially on the line lI -H of Fig. 2 indicating the swinging arm in dot and dash lines, and

Fig. 12 isa partial section on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings l5 represents the main frame of the machine which may be referred to as a bed-plate or table arranged upon suitable supports 16, and consists of a hollow casting substantially rectangular in form. The frame is provided with an upwardly projecting bearing [1 in one corner portion thereof. Adjacent this corner one side of the frame is recessed as seen at l8. At another corner of the frame'is arranged a'vertical red I 9 which also has a bearing in one of the legs or uprights l6, note Fig. 1. This rod provides a swinging mounting for an electric drive motor 20, a spring 2| being employed to provide the desired tension on a 5 drive belt 22 passing over a pulley 23 on the motor shaft and also over a pulley 24 on an intermediate shaft 25. At 26 is shown a vertically arranged drive shaft which is driven from a belt 21 passed around a pulley-28 on the shaft 25 and a pulley 10 29 on the shaft 26.

Arranged in thebearing I1 is a downwardly directed tubular spindle 36 of a swinging arm or frame 3|. Ball bearing mountings 32 are provided for the spindle in the bearing I1, and the shaft 26 is provided with ball bearing mountings 33 in the spindle 30. Other ball bearing mountings 34 are provided for the pulley 29 upon the shaft 26, the pulley carrying a friction clutch face 35 adapted to engage a clutch'drive disc 36 which is held in engagement with the clutch of the pulley 23 by a spring 31 operating upon a tubular extension 33 of the disc 36.

The disc is keyed to the shaft 26 and free to move longitudinally thereon. The clutch disc 36 is operated by a clutch operating yoke 39 carrying suitable shoes 46 fitting within an annular channel or clutch collar 4|, note Figs. 2 and 12.

The yoke 33 is operated by a rocker shaft 42 arranged in suitable hearings in the frame and 30 which extends into the recess I8. An operating handle 43 is pivoted to the shaft 42 as seen at 44. The handle carries a projection 45 adapted to cooperate with a suitable catch 46 to hold the clutch in operative position. A spring actuated pin 41 is employed to support the arm in position, note Fig. 12. It will be understood that the arm may be swung free of the catch 46 whenever it is desired to support or disengage the clutch.

A brake friction ring 46 is arranged to engage the opposite surface of the clutch disc 36 when the disc is disengaged from the pulley 29 to brake or retard the rotation of the shaft in the gradual stopping of the machine. The ring 48 is supported in connection with a plate 49 secured to suitable projections 50 in the frame l5, note Fig. 2.

The spindle 36 protrudes below the top wall of the frame I5, and the lower end thereof is externally threaded and provided with longitudinal key ways 5|. An arm controlling element 52 has projections 53 entering the key slots 6| to key the element 52 against rotation on said spindle. Two sleeves nuts 54 are employed to retain the element 52 in position. The element 52 operates to control the position of the arm or swinging frame, and has a flat surface 88a which'normally is engaged bya roller I on a swinging link,58. The roller is also adapted to enter a recess 83b in the element 52 in' retaining the arm in what might be termed the open position. The purpose of this construction is to swing the -dies and other mechanism supported in connection iwth the arm awayfrom the nozzle of the machine for replacement of dies, repairs, and any other purpose, and renders the mechanisms freely accessible, as will be apparent.

A long rod 51 is coupled with the link 88 and extends outwardly through the frame I5, and a spring 58 is employed on the rod, the tension of which is adjusted by a nut 58 to control the applied pressure on the swinging arm or frame 3| in moving the dies carried thereby into engagement with the nozzle, while at the same time easing this pressure by means later described.

Arranged longitudinally of the arm or swingingframe 3I is a cam shaft 68 which is geared to the drive shaft 28 throughbeveled gears 8| and 62, note Fig. 2. The shaft 68 is arranged in suitableball bearings 63 in the 'end portions of the arm 3|. The shaft protrudes through one end of the arm and is provided with a hand wheel 84 by means of which the shaft may be rotated, at will independent of the power drive of the machine, for any desired purpose.

Arranged longitudinally of the shaft 88. are a series of cams, two cams 65, 66 being employed to actuate air valves, as later described. Two other die operating cams 61 and 68 are arranged in close proximity to each other and between which is a cam 68 for'actuating the core pin employed. At 18 is a cam for providing the relief of the spring pressure 58 upon the arm to relieve the pressure of the dies upon the nozzle in between successive casting operations. n the shaft 68 is a worm 1i cooperating with a worm wheel 12 on a shaft 13, which controls the feed or operation of a trip chain 14, note Fig. 10.

A pair of substantially similar scissor or tong die supporting members 15, a are arranged to swing about a vertical shaft 18. Each member 15, 15a is provided with a downwardly extending semicircular bearing portion 11 arranged upon a bushing 18 andsupported within a tubular bearing consisting of a semicircular portion 18 of the casing 3I and a clamp block 18a secured thereto by screws 18b. Suflicient clearance is provided between adjacent surfaces of the bearings 11 to permit the scissor-like action of the members 15, 18a in moving the die parts 88 toward and from each other. Screws 8I are provided for detachably supporting the dies in connection with the members 15.

In the construction shown, adjacent abutting surfaces of the dies are provided with an impression '82 of the contour of a link or scoop of a separable fastener stringer. The dies are recessed to receive a mounting tape 83, commonly referred to as a stringer tape, and also to receive a core pin 84 upon which the cast links are formed substantially in accordance with the teachings in Patents No. 1,966,256 and 1,975,966.

The members '15, 15a are provided with water circulating passages 85 for the circulation of water or other cooling agents therethrough. Flexible inlet tubes 88 are coupled with said members, and discharge tubes 81 are provided adjacent the dies 88.

At the lower ends of each of the bearings 11 are supported rollers 88 which operate in the cams 81, 88 respectively, in controlling the move- Arranged upon the shaft 18 within the bushing 18 and projecting beyond the ends of said bushing is a sleeve 88. The lower end of this sleeve carries a yoke 88 in connection with which the fork end ll of a lever 82 operates. The lever is pivoted as seen at 83, and" carried at its other vend is a roller bearing 84 which operates upon the cam 88 which controls the feed of the core pin 84, This pin is supported in connection with an arm 85, supported upon the upper end of the sleeve, and held against rotation by a key element 88 engaging a bracket 81'. The bracket is supported'upon the top of the swinging frame 3| and forms a bearing for the shaft 16. This bracket also carries a horizontal pin 88 for supporting a guide spool or pulley 88 for the tape 88 prior to its passage downwardly through a tape feeding device I88.

The device I88 is supported in connection with an arm I8I secured to the shaft 18 above the sleeve 88, the arm I8I having a key member I82 engaging the bracket 81 to prevent rotation thereof. Supported in connection with the arm IN is a tape guiding block I83 carrying two pivoted tape grippers I84 normally held in engagement with the tape 83 by springs I85 so that a slight pressure is always provided upon the tape 83 to support the same in proper position, especially in the intermittent casting of links at spaced intervals on the tape and so that the tape is drawn through the grippers I84 under slight tension in the feed thereof so as to definitely control the spacing of the links. It is understood in this connection that in the upward movement of the arm I8I, including the block I83, the dies 88 will hold the tape against upward movement permitting the grippers I84 to pass thereover. At the end of the upward movement of the arm IN, the dies 88 are opened and the tape still held by the grippers I84 is fed downwardly by said grippers a distance equal to the previous upward movement of the arm in the downward movement of said arm. This operation may be performed in one or two stages, depending upon the spacing to be performed between the groups of links on the tape which controls what is commonly referred to as the stringer lengths.

In this connection, trip links 14a are provided on the chain 14 which controlthe movement of a dog or catch I88, note Fig. 10, to release one of the valve cylinders I 81, so as to operate the shaft 16 and the arm I8I thereon by admitting air into an annular chamber I88 through a pipe I88 connecting with the cylinder I81. The lower end of the shaft 18 directly adjacent the chamber I88 is provided with a piston II8 against which the air operates in raising said shaft against the action of a spring III. The piston H8 and spring III is arranged to operate in a cylinder I I2 which is coupled with the swinging frame as seen at II3. It will be understood that the spring III moves the arm I8I as well as the shaft 16 downwardly when the air pressure is released, the latter being performed when the cylinder I81 is in the position shown in Fig. 8.

In this connection it will also be apparent that a spring II4, which cooperates with the sleeve 83 or the yoke 30 thereon, serves to hold the roller 94 in constant engagement with the cam 68 in controlling the operation of the core pin 84.

The valve cylinder I01 is arranged in a valve casing II5 supported in connection with the swinging frame '3I as clearly seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The cylinder I 01 carries at one end 10 a roller II8 operating upon the cam 85, and is held against the cam or against the dog I08 by a spring II1. It is understood that the dog I06 supports the roller II8 out of active engagement with the cam 55 as in Fig. 8, so that the cylinder I01 remains idle except during the cycle of operation in widely spacing the links as above de-- scribed.

The casing H5 is provided with an air inlet passage II8 for the admission of air under pressure into the cylinder through a passage I I9, note :5 that the supply of air to the chamber I08 is nor- 4 Fig. 8. In the normal position of the cylinder I01, the chamber thereof or the exhaust port I I9a is out of engagement with an exhaust passage I with which the pipe I 09 communicates, so

35 a pipe I communicating therewith which leads to and is adapted to operate a plunger I28 of the gooseneck I21 of the pot or container I28 for the casting material employed, as laterdesoribed. It will be noted that both valve cylinders I01 and 401. I2I can open to atmosphere for the release of air pressure in the pipes 108 and I25. Suitable ports I20 and I24 are provided to register with a the passages I20 and i240 respectively as well as with the exhaust through the open ends of the 45 cylinders for this purpose and as seen in Figs.

8 and 9 of the drawings. One end of the cylinder I01 is plugged as seen at'l01c, and one end of the cylinder I2I is plugged as seen at I2Ia. A transverse partition I01d and I2I'b is providedln 50 each cylinder. The cylinder I2I carries a roller i 23 operating upon the cam 86 which controls the registration of the port I22 with the by-pass I23. A spring I is employed to support the roller I26 in constant engagement with the cam 68.

55 It will appear upon a consideration of Figs. '1,

8 and 9 that each cylinder I01, I2I forms the valve member and are each disposed within a bushing and arranged within the casing I5 simply as a matter of good design, so that the bush- 0 ings actually become part of the casing. The

term cylinder as used in describing the valves is simply to identify the tubular structure thereof.

At this time attention is directed to the fact that when the cylinder I01 is released from the 65 position shown in Fig. 8 by tripping the dog I06.

this cylinder will be then free to be operated by the cam 85. In this cycle 01' operation the cylinder will be moved into such position as to bring the port I01a thereof out of registering aline- 70 ment with the by-pass I23, so that no air can be passed into the cylinder I2I. While the dies are operated to perform their normal movement in the cycle of operation above-referred to, no casting material will be discharged from the pot 75 I28 by reason of the fact that no air is supplied to the cylinder I21 and thus the plunger I26 is not operated. 4

Upon consideration of Fig. 10, it will be seen that a spring actuated pin I3I is employed to support the dog I08, normally in operative position, in the slot or groove I01b of the cylinder- I01. A finger piece I32 is provided on the dog to facilitate manual tripping or releasing. of the dog at will in testing or other operations of the machine. The dog I06 is mounted on a pivot I060. and carries at its free end a roller I06b which cooperates with the chain 14 and the trips 14a thereon.

The pot I28 may be heated by the passage of a flame from a gas burner I33 around circulating chambers I34 of the pot proper. This pot is pivotally supported upon the frame or bed-plate I5 by means of a link I35 pivoted to a bracket I36 in the frame and to the pot, as seen at I31. An adjustable screw I38 is provided to raise and lower the height of the pot so as to bring a discharge nozzle I38 in proper registering alinement with the impression 82 of the dies or the usual gate leading to said impression.

At I40 is shown a vertically adjustable screw which may be operated by a suitable handle member I4I for the purpose of tilting the entire pot by lowering said screw so as to bring the molten metal of the pot away from the gooseneck I 21 for repairs or other purposes. A cover I42 is provided for the top of the pot I28 to control, by the removal thereof, the insertion of casting material into the chamber thereof from time to time. The plunger I26 is movable vertically in a bushing I43 provided in the gooseneck. The bushing has an aperture I44 registering with another aperture I45 in the gooseneck to control admission of casting material into the bushing I43 below the plunger I26.

A discharge passage I46 extends upwardly from the lower end of the gooseneck to the nozzle I39. A clean-out plug I41 is provided at the lower end of the gooseneck and in registering alinement with the bore of the bushing I43 and the passage I46. A yoke-shaped lever I48 is pivoted upon rounded bearings I45 in the pot I28 at opposite sides of the gooseneck. Pressure is applied to the lever I48 through an adjustable screw I50 to firmly support the tapered end I21a of the gooseneck in a corresponding socket formed in the pot.

The shaft 13 is mounted in suitable bearings I5l in the swinging frame 3i. 0n the outer end of the shaft 13 is mounted a sprocket I52 upon which the chain 14 is mounted. Adjacent this sprocket a clutch collar I53 is keyed to the shaft and has a tooth clutch engagement I54, with the sprocket I52, normally held in engagement therewith by a spring I55. This construction permits a free rotation of the sprocket I52 to adjust the chain to any desired position in governing the cycle of operation of the trips 14a on said chain.

In the event of foreign particles coming between the dies 80, which would interfere with the proper functioning of the dies, means are provided to stop the operation of the machine. To

accomplish this result, a rod I56 is secured to the cam 68 and passes through the cam 69 and through the cam 61. The free end of the rod I58 engages a cross pin I51 mounted in a yokeshaped block I 58, supported between projecting ears 81a on the cam 61, the block I58 being supported on pivots I59. The lower ends of the block I58 are forked as seen at I60 to engage another cross pin I6I which is coupled with a long switch operating rod I02 slidably arranged in the shaft II, and the free end of which cooperates with a microelectric switch I63. The switch will instantaneously stop the operation of the electric motor 20, especially in providing a motor of this type incorporating the quick braking function, thus providing a substantially instantaneous stoppage of the machine.

It will be understood that if for any reason the dies are not brought into proper relationship to each other in the casting operation, the cams 61 and 33 being slidably mounted on and keyed to the shaft 33 will move toward each other against the action of the spring I580 as seen in Fig. 3, which will move the rod I62 to the right in actuating the switch I33. In this action of the cams it will be apparent that the yoke-shaped member I" is moved on its pivots I" to actuate the rod "2.

8 One of the bearings 33 of the cam shaft 60 is held in position by a housing I which substantially envelops the cam II. The housing is recessed at one side, as noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing, to receive a roller I which operates upon the cam and which forms a stop limiting the swinging movement of the arm or swinging frame 3I. The roller I 35 is supported in an adjustable bracket I mounted upon the bed-plate it and adjustable thereon. The adjustment is made by a screw I01 supported in the bed-plate and engaging a downwardly projecting portion I88 on the bracket I, note Fig. l of the drawings.

The purpose of the cam III engaging the roller I" is to move the swinging frame 3| or the dies thereof slightly away from the nozzle I39 intermediate the casting operations, while at the same time permitting the spring 58 to support the dies 80 in firm engagement with the nozzle I39 during the casting operation. In this latter operation, the roller 55 engages the surface 53a of the element 52.

The pipe l2! communicating with the air cylinder I2I does not connect directly with the cylinder for actuating the plunger I28, but is first coupled with a cap I" secured to the swinging frame 3|, note Fig. 2. In this cap is a swivel connection I'll in communication wtlh the pipe I25, and coupled with the swivel connection is a suitable flexible tube I250. which connects with a plunger cylinder III as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The casting of the swinging frame or arm 3I is provided with two water circulating chambers I12, I120. The chamber "2 has an inlet passage I13, note Fig. 5, and the chamber I'I2a an outlet passage I'I3a, so that circulating water may be passed into the chamber "2 through the flexible tube I13 and then out through a Y-connection I14 to the separate tubes 38 leading to the die supporting members I5, 18a, and then discharged from said members through the tubes 31 which connect with another Y-connection Illa communicating with the chamber "2:1 and thus passing outwardly through the exhaust tube II3a.

By passing cooling water through at least a part of the casting, a means is provided to prevent the transfer of heat from the pot through the frame to the dies. It is understood that by cooling the casting of the swinging frame, the work of chilling the dies by directly circulating water through the members I5, Ila is simplified.

In connection with the latching of the clutch operating lever 43, it will appear that this lever carries a pin 34, note Fig. 12, having a grooved head 43b in connection with whicha metal strip "a on the catch operates to retain the lever 41 against accidental displacement.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings 1 have diagrammatically indicated at I" a pyrometer electric control for maintaining the desired temperature of the casting material through the medium of a temperature indicator I13, and in the circuit of which is a suitable valve III controlling the action of the burner I33. As these control units are known in the art, no detail description thereof is essential.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the drawings and the following statement. Assuming that the dies are first brought in to closed position and upon a predetermined section of the tape 83, upon which a casting is to be formed, and the core 34 is arranged within and between the dies with a part thereof in the impression 32, the swinging frame controlled through the action of the cam II as previously described, is moved to bring the nozzle I38 in positive and firm engagement with the dies. The plunger I23 now moves downwardly shutting off the passages I N, I, and the casting material is discharged upwardly through the passage I in the gooseneck and out through the nozzle I39 into the impression 82. I Immediately after this injection operation, the piston or plunger I28 moves upwardly drawing or sucking the casting material downwardly through the passage I and again opening the passages I, I" to admit a new charge of casting material into the gooseneck beneath the plunger.

The next step in the operation is to open the dies, in which-operation the core 84 acts as a means of ejecting the casting material from the dies. The core 84 together with the tape 83 upon which the formed casting is arranged, now moves downwardly to a position adjacent the lower surface llla of the dies. The dies are then partially closed and the core pin 34 is then moved upwardly, thus stripping the casting therefrom. This operation forms the means for accurately spacing the successive links one with respect to the other on the tape 33. The dies are then again closed and the next cycle of operation Is performed.

It will be understood that in the above operation, the various cams will function in a manner heretofore described. After a predetermined number of links have been formed on the tape, to define what is known as a stringer length, the dog III is tripped and the wide spacing of the tape is performed in the manner heretofore specifically described.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the links are being cast on the tape, the cylinder III! is retained in the position shown In Fig. 8 by the dog I03. That is to say, the roller H8 is retained in a fixed position so that the cam 65 is free to rotate without acting upon the cylinder II". In this position of the cylinder, air under pressure admitted into the cylinder will pass through the by-pass I23 and into the cylinder I2I when the port I22 registers with the by-pass I23, and will be discharged through the passage I24 into the pipe I23 and thus to the plunger cylinder "I through the swivel connection I" and the tube I2la. In this connection it will be understood that the cam 66 is continuously operating to actuate the cylinder I2I so as to intermittently supply air under pressure to the plunger cylinder III, thus causing inter- When the wide spacing of the links is to take place in forming predetermined stringer lengths, the dog I06 is tripped by the trip links 14a on the chain 14, note Fig. 10, two of the links being employed in the construction shown to provide two successive feeds of the tape to give the required spacing between adjacent links. When the dog is released, as above stated, the spring II1 moves the cylinder I01 in the direction of the cam so that the roller 1 I I6 will be actuated by the cam. In this cycle of operation the movement of the cylinder I01 will cause the port A011: to register with the by-pass I23 at regular intervals. However, the cams 65 and 66 are so designed and their timing is such that the by-pass I23 is closedto the cylinder I2I as is plainly seen in Fig. '7. Thus, no air under pressure will be permitted to enter the cylinder HI and instead the air will be discharged from the cylinder I01 through the port I I9a, and thus into the pipe I00 and into the chamber I08 to raise the rod 16 together with the member IM and the grippers I04 supported thereon. In this connection it will be understood that when the cylinder I01 returns to the position shown in Fig. 8,

air pressure in the pipe I00 and chamber I08 will be released through the exhaust I20, and the spring III will move the grippers downwardly. -This operation is repeated a second time by the second trip in producing the double spacing above referred to. During these two operations it will be understood that the dies go through the same motions but no castings will be formed on the tape by reason of the fact that air under pressure is cut off from the cylinder I2I. The two trips 14a employed will release the cylinder I01 for two successive cycles of operation of the machine to provide the desired wide spacing of the tape. After the two spacing operations above referred to, the dog I06 again enters the recess I01b of the cylinder I01. The cylinder will re- 7 main supported in this position until another series of castings are formed and then the above spacing operation is repeated.

One of the distinctive features of the present machine resides in the fact that the machine is designed primarily for high speed operation. It is possible to actuate a machine of this type to produce castings of the kind and class under consideration at the rate of substantially a thousand a minute, in comparison with other known types of machines of this kind operating at a speed of substantially two hunderd a minute. This is made possible due to the fact that the time allowed for the injection of the casting material into the die cavities and for allowing the casting material to chill or set, would be substantially the same as that in other machines of this kind. It is understood, however, that in the present machine, that part of the cycle of the machine operation, during which the various other mechanical functions are being performed, has been proportionately reduced. However, to counteract for this, the present machine has incorporated working parts, the weight of which have been materially reduced, and further in the reduction of the movement of the parts to a minimum; that is to say to a point suillcient to perform the desired functions. Thus it will be obvious that the additional strain engendered by this greater speed of machine operation is more than compensated for by'the less motion required and less weight prevailing in the various moving parts employed.

, While the machine has been shown as supporting dies for the casting of the links of separable fastener stringers, it will be apparent that this is only illustrative of one use of the invention. Various kinds and classes of dies may be employed for the production of numerous kinds of castings in the art generally known as the die casting or pressure casting art. While the machine as disclosed is designed for the production of relatively small castings, it will also be apparent that the principle of operation is also adapted to dies of larger size in forming larger castings. In this latter event, the speed of operation of the machine may be reduced to be consistent with the size of the castings formed. Further the various parts of the machine may be modified as to size and construction to suit such larger castings.

It will also be understood that the machine as herein disclosed is adapted for use in casting various types and kinds of metals or metal alloys. Other die casting materials such as thermoplastic material may be employed, in which latter event, suitable means will be provided for heating and injecting the material into the dies; In all such cases, the speed of operation of the machine will be regulated to suit the various kinds and classes of casting materials employed.

, It will of course be understood that where the tape or mounting member is not employed in the making of castings, the mechanism controlling the tape feed will be dispensed with, and other adaptations and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will appear that a key rod I56b is also employed to key the cams 61 and 68 together. The rod I56b is secured to the cam 61 by a set screw I56c, note Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The swinging arm or casing 3| may be said to comprise a unit incorporating most of the operative mechanisms of the machine which are mounted in connection with and movable with this unit. The unit may be manually swung about the axis of the drive shaft from the normal position of the unit to what may be termed the'open or accessible position thereof, in which operation the roller 55 passes over the element 52 until said roller enters the recess 53b, the spring 58 serving to tensionally support the unit in its extended position. However, by exerting slight manual pressure, the unit may again be swung to return it to the position shown in Fig, 11. It will appear that the flexible connections which are provided for the compressed air lines and the water circulating system will compensate for the swinging movement of the unit.

The feed of the tape 83 is controlled between 65 rate measuring of tape consumed in the machine is made possible.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A die casting machine of the class described I comprising a stationary frame, a drive shaft, a swinging frame rotatable about the axis of said drive shaft, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in said swinging frame and in operative engagement with the drive shaft, two die supporting members mounted to swing about a common axis in the swinging frame and in operative engagement with cams on said cam shaft controlling the movement of dies supported in said members toward and from each other in the successive casting operations of the machine.

2. A die casting machine of the class described comprising a stationary frame, a drive shaft, a swinging frame rotatable about the axis of said drive shaft, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in said swinging frame and in operative engagement with the drive shaft, two die supporting members mounted to swing about a common axis in the swinging frame and in operative engagement with cams on said cam shaft controlling the movement of dies supported in said members toward and from each other in the successive casting operations of the machine, means including a discharge nozzle adjustably supported on the stationary frame for supplying casting material under pressure to the impression of the dies supported in said members, and means including a cam on said cam shaft for controlling movement of the dies toward and from said nozzle in the successive casting operations of the machine.

3. A casting machine of the class described comprising a drive shaft, a frame in the form of an arm mounted to swing about the axis of said drive shaft, adjustable means at the free end of the arm for limiting the movement of the arm in one direction, tensional means for moving the arm in the direction of said last named means, a pair of die supporting members movably supported in connection with said arm, a core movably supported in connection with the arm and movable relatively to said dies, and means involving cams arranged in said arm and in operative engagement with said drive shaft for controlling the operation of said die supporting members and said core.

4. A casting machine of the class described comprising a drive shaft, a frame in the form of an arm mounted to swing about the axis of said drive shaft, adjustable means at the free end of the arm for limiting the movement of the arm in one direction, tensional means for moving the arm in the direction of said last named means, a pair of die supporting members movably supported in connection with said arm, a core movably supported in connection with the arm and movable relatively to said dies, means involving cams arranged in said arm and in operative engagement with said drive shaft for controlling the operation of said die supporting members and said core, and means for supporting said arm with the free end portion thereof in widely spaced relationship to said first named means to give access to the mechanisms supported in connection with said arm.

5.In a die casting machine of the class described employing relatively movable die supporting members with dies arranged on adjacent surfaces of said members, a. drive shaft, an electric motor of the quick brake stoppi type for actuating said shaft, a camshaft in operative engagement with the drive shaft, two cams arranged on said shaft injuxtaposition and in operative engagement with said die supporting members for actuating said members, tensional means for normally supporting the cams in spaced relation to each other and to permit movement toward each other in the improper closure of dies supported in connection with said members, and means in operative engagement with said cams for actuating an electric switch controlling said electric motor for stopping the motor in the movement of said cams toward each other.

6. A casting machine of the class described comprising aframe consisting of a bed-plate. a drive shaft arranged vertically in the frame and projecting above the surface of said bed-plate, an arm having a swivel mounting on said shaft and arranged horizontally over said bed-plate. means adiustably supported on the bed-plate forming the source of supply for the casting material employed and from which casting material is discharged under pressure through a suitable nozzle, 9. pair of relatively movable dies supported on and movable with said arm toward and from the nozzle of said first named means, means adjustable on the bed-plate and in connection with which the arm operates for regulating relative position of the dies with respect to said nozzle, and means controlling movement of the arm or the dies thereon toward and from the nozzle in the adjusted position thereof in successive casting operations of the machine to insure firm engagement of the dies with said nozzle in injecting the casting material into the impression of said dies.

7. In a high speed die casting machine of the class described having means for pressure discharging heated casting material, a pair of tonglike members mounted to move about a common axis, means at one end portion of said members for supporting dies in connection therewith to move in registering positions with each other when closed, said dies when closed registering with the discharge means of the heated casting material, resiliently backed means cooperating with said membersto move the dies toward and from each other in the successive casting operations of the machine, means for actuating a tape to move vertically and downwardly between adjacent surfaces of said relatively movable dies, means feeding the tape relatively to the dies in forming successive castings at relatively close arrangement on said tape, means above said dies to feed said tape in the wide spacing thereof between cast elements on the tape, and compressed air actuated means for operating said last named means.

8. A high speed die casting machine of the class described comprising a drive shaft, an arm mounted to swing about the axis of said drive shaft, a discharge nozzle, compressed air actuated means for pressure discharging heated casting material from said nozzle, a pair of die supporting members movably supported in connection with said arm and movable toward and from said nozzle in the swinging movement of the arm to bring the dies into registering position with said nozzle, means retaining said arm against movement in successive casting operations of the machine, and means on said arm in operative engagement with said drive shaft for actuating said die supporting members to move dies supported therein toward and from each other in successive casting operations.

9. A high speed die casting machine of the class described comprising a drive shaft, an arm mounted to swing about the axis of said drive shaft, a discharge nozzle, compressed air actuated means for pressure discharging heated casting material from said nozzle, a pair of die supporting members movably supported in connection with said arm and movable toward and from said nozzle in the swinging movement of the arm to bring the dies into registering position with said nozzle, means retaining said arm against movement in successive casting operations of the machine, means on said arm in operative en agement with said drive shaft for actuating said die supporting members to move dies supported therein toward and from each other in successive casting operations, means on said arm for guiding a tape between dies supported in said members in forming successive series of castings on said tape, and compressed air operated means on said am engaging the tape before entering said dies for intermittently feeding the tape to provide wide spacing of the tape between predetermined successive castings arranged thereon.

10. A high speed die casting machine of the class described comprising a drive shaft, an arm mounted "to swing about the axis of said drive shaft, a discharge nozzle, compressed air actuated means for pressure discharging heated casting material from said nozzle, a pair of die supportin: members movably supported in connection with said arm and movable toward and from said nozzle in the swinging movement of the arm to bring the dies into registering position with said nozzle, means retaining said arm against movement in successive casting operations of the machine, means on said am in operative engagement with said drive shaft for actuating said die supporting members to move dies supported therein toward and from each other in successive casting operations, and means for circulating a cooling agent through said die supporting members and through said arm for cooling the same.

11. In a-die casting machine, two dies having adjacent faces formed with recesses therein, a

cam shaft having two cams thereon, two connections, one from each of said cams to one of said dies, and arranged to reciprocate said dies to and from a position wherein said faces contact so that said recesses together form a mold cavity, said cams being movable along said shaft relative to each other, and a spring normally holding said came in spaced relation on the shaft but yielding to permit relative motion between the cams if said die faces fail to contact with each other when moved towards each other.

12. In a die casting machine, two dies having adjacent faces formed with recesses therein, means to reciprocate said dies to and from a position wherein said faces contact so that said recesses together form a mold cavity, a nozzle arranged to contact with said dies to discharge casting material into said mold cavity, a movable arm supporting said dies and the means to reciprocate them, spring means moving the arm to support the dies, in pressure engagement with said nozzle, and means cooperating with the free end portion of said arm to move the dies away from pressure engagement with said nozzle against the action of said spring means between casting operations.

13. In a die casting machine, two horizontally disposed dies having vertical faces formed with recesses therein, means to reciprocate said dies to and from a position wherein said faces contact so that said recesses together form a mold cavity, means to guide a tape between said faces and through said cavity to cast the elements thereon, and means engaging the tape before entering the dies to feed said tape in the wide spacing thereof between cast elements on said tape.

14. In a die casting machine, two horizontally disposed dies having vertical faces formed with recesses therein, means to reciprocate said dies to and from a position wherein said faces contact so that said recesses together form a mold cavity, means to guide a tape between said faces and through said cavity to cast the elements thereon, means engaging the tape before entering the dies to feed said tape in' the wide spacing thereof between cast elements on said tape, fluid pressure actuating means for operating said tape feeding means, a valve controlling the operation of said last named means, and automatically actuated means cooperating with said valve to control intervals of wide spacing of said tape in governing the number of cast elements arranged in groups between said wide spacings on the tape.

15. In a die casting machine, two dies having adjacent faces formed with recesses therein, means supporting the dies to swing upon a common axis, a cam shaft, cams slidably mounted on said shaft to reciprocate the dies to and from a position where said faces contact so that said recesses together form a mold cavity, and means involving a rod extending through said cam shaft and projecting therefrom for operative engagement with at least one of said cams to automatically stop the machine when said faces of the dies fail to contact when moved toward each other.

16. In a high speed die casting machine of the class described having means for pressure discharging heated casting material, a pair of tonglike members mounted to move about a common axis, means at one end portion of said members for supporting dies in connection therewith to move in registering positions with each other when closed, said dies when closed registering with the discharge means of the heated casting material, means cooperating with said members to move the dies toward and from each other in the successive casting operations of the machine, and a spring operatively engaging said last named means to provide yieldable operation of said members when moved toward each other.

LOUIS H. MORIN. 

